Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

   RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no exempt items.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

Members did not raise any interests.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor J Dowson and Z Hussain.

In accordance with Paragraphs 4:16 and 4:17 of the Community Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Community Committee. This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

In accordance with the Community Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions within the terms of reference of the Community Committee.

Mr Nigel Lees (Meanwood Valley Trail) attended the meeting and referred to a piece of private land designated as open space, which forms part of the Meanwood Valley Trail, on Moortown, heading up towards Weetwood. Mr Lees explained that further to a grant from Civic Trust, a bench was placed on that piece of land, and he is constantly clearing rubbish from a bin near the bench, and it is becoming onerous to him. Mr Lees requested that a public bin is placed on a public footway, preferably on Mill Pond Lane.

Mr Lees also requested that the sign for Meanwood Valley Trail is replaced as it has eroded.

The Chair confirmed that relevant ward councillors will take up these issues outside of the meeting and thanked Mr Lees for everything him and his group do for the community.

RESOLVED – To note the request and recommend that ward members liaise directly with Mr Lees outside of the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held Monday, 26^th February 2024.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held Monday, 26^th February 2024, be approved as an accurate record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the City Solicitor which invites members to note the appointment of Councillor Shahzad as Chair of the Community Committee for 2024/25, as agreed at the recent Annual Meeting of Council. As well as making appointments to those positions detailed in section 6 of the submitted report / Appendix 1.

The report of the City Solicitor requested the Community Committee to note the appointment of Cllr M Shahzad as Chair of the Inner North East Community Committee for 2024/25 as agreed at the recent Annual Council Meeting and also invited the Committee to make appointments to those positions detailed in section 6 of the submitted report.

Members touched on an upcoming Community Committee review, which specifically looks at the role of the Champions. A member touched on issues and concerns regarding the role of Champions and their liaison and communications with relevant Executive Members.

The Chair explained that the review is on-going, and the Community Committee review will define roles and ensure better interaction with Executive Members. The Chair concluded that he would feedback information to relevant Executive Members.

RESOLVED – To note the appointment of Cllr M Shahzad as Chair of the Inner North East Community Committee for 2024/25, and to appoint to the positions set out in the submitted report as follows:

Jason and Ilana, members of West Yorkshire Youth Commission attended the meeting and provided some context on the West Yorkshire: Youth Commission: Final Report 2023 to the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership. The report is included as an Appendix to Agenda Item 9 – Update Report.

They both provided some context on how they became Members at West Yorkshire Youth Commission and explained that they work with children who are less advantaged.

They explained that there are 4 big aims of the Report, those being:

1)  Attitudes and violence towards women

2)  Community relationships and life

3)  Rehabilitation and prevention

4)  Drugs, gangs, and knife crime

They added that young people are not often listened to enough, and they highlighted the importance of a young person’s perspective. They were also keen to identify how the cost of living has an impact on violence and lower income families.

The representatives explained that they attended the ‘Big Conversation’ meeting where several responsible authorities and organisations met and discussed with young people on how to utilise their talents and/or build relationships with responsible authorities.

In the Youth Commission, the representatives explained that they take part in monthly meetings where they plan workshops and take part in conversations with young people to try and link and identify any issues across West Yorkshire.

Ilana identified that children who are excluded from school, are often those who miss out in taking part in activities in their wards. The importance of events such as the Youth Summit, being inclusive and accessible to every child was noted. Further to this, the Committee were keen to identify the mechanisms and communications in place to assist children who have been excluded from school.

Further to a question from a Committee Member, Ilana confirmed that there is currently 15 Members at West Yorkshire Youth Commission. She explained that she is keen to build on contacts and building on campaigns so that her work is more known in the community. She referred to a campaign that the Youth Commission did on TikTok. Committee Members asked her to send them the link so that they could share this more widely in the community.

The Champion for Children and Young People confirmed that she will highlight the above issues at her next cluster meeting.

The Committee requested that the Chair on behalf of the Inner North East Community Committee, write to West Yorkshire Combined Authority to understand which recommendations they will be endorsing from the West Yorkshire: Youth Commission: Final 2023 Report to West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership.

Officers also confirmed that they can work with the Youth Commission in providing them contact details of different networking contacts, including Elected Members and details of all the Community Committee meetings across the city.

A suggestion was also put forward that a representative from the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership attend a future meeting.

Members also suggested that the Youth Commission should link up with the Voice, Influence and Change Team, as well as Leeds City  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update of the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

The report also provides regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided an update of the work which the Communities Team is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provided an opportunity for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

The report also provided regular updates on some of the key activities between the Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champion roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

The Localities Officer highlighted the following information:

·  Inner North East Youth Services Report contained within Appendix 1.

·  West Yorkshire Youth Commission Report contained within Appendix 2.

·  Statistics regarding anti-social behaviour. A breakdown per ward was provided as per the submitted report.

·  On-going issues regarding complaints of anti-social behaviour at  Roundhay Park and the mechanisms that will be put in place in response to that.

·  A breakdown of CCTV incidents captured between October 2023 – March 2024. Members also requested some clarity on the ownership of CCTV cameras across the wards. It was noted that some cameras are in the ownership of LeedsWatch whereas some cameras are funded through ward pots. Members also commented on the importance of CCTV which act as a deterrent for crime.

·  The reduction of staff at the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team and the impact this is having on street cleansing/overflowing litter bins.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships regarding an update on the Community Committee Youth Summit and an update on the Youth Activity Fund Consultation.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Community Committee with an update on the Community Committee Youth Summit, as well as the Youth Activity Fund Consultation.

The Localities Officer presented the report and highlighted the following:

·  An excellent Youth Summit was held in March 2024 with attendance from young people aged between 8-17, and from across 8 primary schools and 2 secondary schools across the 3 Inner North East Community Committee wards.

·  It is acknowledged that efforts must be made to reach out to groups of children who are not in education and/or excluded from school.

·  Children provided good feedback in terms of the activities they would like to see in their area. The top six activities include Sports, Outdoor Adventure, Drama, Dance, Music, and Cooking.

RESOLVED – To note:

a)  Reflections from the last 12 months.

b)  Details of the Youth Activity Fund consultation survey and that the Youth Activity Fund survey informs the Community Committee’s Youth Activity Fund for 2024/25.

c)  That any projects funded by the Community Committee from the Youth Activity Fund focus on the themes and activity priorities identified in the Youth Activity Fund Consultation Survey in 2024/25.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Locality Partnerships which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund as well as the CRIS and Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2024/25.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund as well as the CRIS and Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2024/25.

Projects as outlined in the submitted report were discussed and agreed as follows:

The Localities Officer highlighted the following information:

·  An overview of the proposed minimum conditions as per paragraph 14 and 17 of the submitted report.

·  The Wellbeing Revenue 2024/25 budget, which stands at £109,188.44.

·  The area wide ring-fenced Wellbeing projects budget, which stands at £61,809.53.

·  The area wide ward projects budget, which stands at £55,291.53.

·  Delegated Decisions that have taken place since the last Community Committee meeting on the 26^{th of} February 2024. It was noted that Irish Arts and Cultural Activities and Events, Connecting Nature, Meanwood Park Community Tennis Programme and Breeze in the Park 2024 were all approved.

·  No projects have been declined since the last Community Committee meeting held on the 26^{th of} February 2024.

·  The Ward Pots Budget 2024/25. A breakdown per ward was provided as per the submitted report.

·  The Youth Activities Fund Position 2024/25. It was noted that following further work with organisations regarding their finances, additional monies have been saved towards the cost of the projects.

·  The Capital Budget 2024/25. The balance stands at £16,848.00.

·  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Budget 2024/25. There is a remaining balance of £54,591.95.

Members discussed the possibilities of reducing the cost of Christmas light switch-on events. The Chair suggested that this discussion take place at ward level.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Note details of the Wellbeing Budget position.

b)  Consider projects as outlined above.

c)  Note details of the projects approved via Delegated Decision.

d)  Note details of the declined projects.

e)  Note details of the Skips and Ward Pots.

f)  Note details of the Youth Activities Fund position.

g)  Note details of the Capital Budget.

h)  Note details of the Community Infrastructure Levy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To note the date and time of the next formal meeting as Monday, 16^th September 2024 at 5pm. Venue TBC.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Monday, 16^th September 2024 at 5pm.

The meeting concluded at 18:50.